Ex-Habersham County deputy shot ex-wife, boyfriend | Crime

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HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. -- More details have been released about the man accused of shooting the Habersham County sheriff and a deputy over the weekend.

In a Monday afternoon news conference, GBI Deputy of Investigations Rusty Andrews gave a timeline of what happened Sunday.

Sheriff Joey Terrell, Deputy William Zigan and another deputy responded to a domestic call in Clarkesville at around 7:30 p.m. The suspect's 16-year-old daughter called police from a nearby store. She told 911 operators that she escaped from the home.

As the sheriff officials drove to the residence, they saw a Ford Crown Victoria approaching them. The Crown Victoria turned into a yard and spun out. A man, believed to be former sheriff's office employee Anthony Giaquinta, got out of the vehicle.

The sheriff and deputies found the 16 year old outside the subdivision and made sure she was safe. They then went back to the residence.

At the home, sheriff's officials found a woman, later identified as Giaquinta's former wife, dead in a garage.

Zigan was posted outside of the home as Terrell and the other deputy began to search the area. Zigan was then ambushed by Giaguinta, according to Andrews. He was shot twice. Terrell was then shot in the right bicep when he entered the garage area. The uninjured deputy then fired back.

Authorities established a perimeter around the area. While searching the premises, they found Giaquinta's body. Andrews said it believed that he was killed in the exchange of gunfire between deputies, and not from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Later in the evening, police found another victim, 45-year-old Steve Singleton, near the back of the home. Singleton and Giaquinta's ex-wife had some sort of relationship, according to investigators. Police believe Giaquinta killed both his wife and Singleton before Terrell and Zigan arrived.

The sheriff and deputy were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment. They were said to be responding well to treatment. Terrell was discharged shortly before 11 p.m. to recover at home. Zigan was still in the hospital Monday morning.

Terrell was reportedly shot in the arm. Zigan was hit multiple times; one of his injuries was to his shoulder.

The GBI is handling the investigation. They said Giaquinta had been involved in law enforcement for a number of years. He used to work for the Habersham County Sheriff's Office as a canine officer, but was let go about a year ago after being involved in a domestic violence-related court case. He worked for the Gainesville Police Department before that, and had been overseas in a military contracting job, Andrews said.

Police said Giaquinta and his wife divorced last summer. Court records showed they previously filed for bankruptcy.

Authorities said Sheriff Terrell knew Giaquinta personally, which is why he responded to Sunday's domestic call.

Police said Giaquinta and his wife had two daughters -- the 16 year old who called 911, and an 18-year-old college student.